cotton-picking

English

Noun

cotton-picking (uncountable)

1. The harvesting of cotton
   • 1859 Opportunities for Industry and the Safe Investment of Capital

     The season of cotton-picking commences in the latter part of July, and continues without intermission to the Christmas holidays.

Adjective

cotton-picking

1. (US, idiomatic, colloquial) An intensifier, like "darn", used for emphasis or to signify that something is of little value.
   • 1959, U.S. Army Aviation Center, U.S. Army Aviation School, United States Army aviation digest, page 31:

     "Now hold up here just a cotton-picking minute,"

   • 1967, Howard Fast. The Hunter and the Trap, page 14:

     "Oh, wait one damn cotton-picking minute," Andy said.

2. (US, idiomatic, pejorative, colloquial) Describes a person who tends to become involved in matters outside of his area of concern.
   • 1975, Richard M Nixon - Containing the Public Messages, Speeches, and Statements of the President:

     I think the President's Adviser on Domestic Affairs should keep his cotton-picking hands off the economic policy for a change.

Quotations

• 1965, “American law reports annotated. second series”, volume 76, page 1276: 

  "...are not entitled to anything, Mrs. Wright, (referring to one of the appellees), because your son (referring to the deceased, F.A. Wright, Jr.), was a cotton picking Negro."

Usage notes

• Often used with hands, as in "keep your cotton-picking hands off" (something or someone).
• Originally referred to slaves and other low status workers in the southern United States who picked cotton in fields by hand.